‘How would you like to be known?’

This article has been published as part of a collaboration between Keswick Ministries and en, which features contributions from the 2026 Convention speakers. Keswick Convention takes place annually each summer, its programme centring on Bible teaching, worship and Christian fellowship.

For more articles from this year's collaboration, visit the Keswick section of en's In Depth page.

Right at the beginning of a long call to a service provider, I had to supply the answer to this question. It’s a nice question to be asked. The mischievous side of me wanted to repeat a trick I once tried in Starbucks when asked my name. “Melchizedek,” I replied. Two minutes later: “Double espresso for Mel.” My ruse had failed. Darn it.

This time around, then, I opted for honesty: “Adrian”. Certainly, no desire for formality or deference.

How would you like be to known?

It’s a question we could equally ask of the Lord Himself. Names, as you probably know, mattered a whole lot more in Bible times than they do in some cultures today. So we should take note of the way God represents Himself. How does he want us to address Him?

There are many, many answers. Some more common; some less so. But an interesting line of enquiry is the names that the Lord attaches to His divine name YHWH, or – as we sometimes say – Jehovah. You will know some of these: Jehovah Jireh, the provider; Jehovah Nissi, my banner; Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals.

There are about nine of these in the Old Testament. All, with one exception, are rarities, occurring only once or twice. The ninth appears 285 times. It’s the name Jehovah Sabaot. Some modern translations render this LORD Almighty (the small caps signifying the divine name) or LORD of Hosts. The latter is better, but I’m particularly fond of the new CSB translation which goes for LORD of Armies.

That’s nearer the sense of it. And isn’t it noticeable the frequency with which this title is used. Who is our Lord? He is provider, banner, shepherd, healer, sanctifier and so on. He is never less than any of these. Yet how does He choose to reveal Himself? Especially as a fighter.

Christians are in a battle, and God is a fighter. These are two deep truths that are slipping from our Christian reality. In truth, we’re a bit embarrassed about military language. Onward! Christian soldiers, seems to belong to another age. Crusaders – the youth movement where I was converted – has been renamed Urban Saints.

Yet all of us know and experience this battle every single day of our lives. Even as we sleep, there is a battle raging. Unless we’re prepared to embrace, understand and believe in a God who fights, then we will be hopeless at conquering sin, powerless to stand against the Devil’s schemes, and careless in how we pray for others.

Of course, God has revealed Himself supremely in the person of the Son. So it should not surprise us that the Son is the Ultimate Fighting Champion. The reason He appeared, says the apostle John, was to win a fight (1 John 3v8).

This is beautifully illustrated in the well-known story of David and Goliath (1 Sam. 17). There we see a mighty, dangerous, scary enemy. No one was able to stand up to him. We should not image the Israelite army were wimps. I think they were right to be frightened, in their own strength. Goliath is bigger than them, better armed than them, and what is at stake is nothing less than the very existence of God’s people.

Into this dangerous setting steps David, the anointed chosen king of Israel (though not yet crowned). He knows he is not able to conquer alone. But he also knows he comes “against you in the name of the LORD of Armies” (1 Sam. 17v45). And he will not just kill the usurper; he will cut off his head. Remind you of anything (hint: Genesis 3v15)?

David is, of course, an example of bravery. He is, naturally, a model of faith when the odds seem stacked against you. He demonstrates, without question, what it means to trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Yet, transported into the story, you and I would be quaking in the ranks; we would not be standing out front like the young shepherd.

No. Better to see David as a beautiful, coloured-in picture of the coming King and victor, none other than Jesus Himself. He stands against Satan and chops off his head.

And be encouraged! As a result, the story of the army does not end in failure. Once the soon-to-be king has destroyed enemy number one, the army get to enjoy the victory. In an oft-forgotten part of the story, the men of Israel defeat the rest of the Philistines and plunder their goods.

Christians are in a battle, and God is not only a fighter. In Jesus, He is a victor. Filled with the Spirit, we enjoy the victory He has already won. We claim His promises for ourselves; we stand firm against the Devil’s schemes; we don’t lose heart at every apparent setback.

God wants us to know Him, and to trust Him, the LORD of Armies. To know He is a fighter; and to trust He is a victor. I want to live with this confidence. Don’t you?